Tape dispenser



May 22, 1962 D. l. BARNARD 3,035,345

TAPE DISPENSER Filed May 25, 1960 Y INVENTOR. 0A x//D BAENA/@0 BY L76 4 W www l 147 T OPA/E YS United, gratas atene 3,035,345 TAPE DHSPENSER David l. Barnard, 6107 Buriingten Ave., indianapolis 2d, Ind. Fiied May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 30,836 5 Ciairns. (Cl. Eid- 124) The present invention relates to a tape dispenser, and more particularly to a new and improved dispensing device for rolled tape which permits the ready feeding of the tape from the roll and the cutting thereof into the desired lengths in a simple and yet highly effective manner.

As is known, the use of rolled tape is widespread, but the existing dispensing structures therefor have proved objectionable in certain respects, particularly, for example, in the instance of dispensing the printed transparent pressure sensitive plastic tape used in the preparation of electrical wiring diagrams and the like for photographic reproduction. In the latter regard, it is highly important that the users ngers do not touch 'the adhesive material coated on one side of the tape and that the tape is kept clean, otherwise such markings are readily visible to the camera when the finished material is photographed for reproduction negatives. In addition, accurate cutting of the rolled tape into the desired lengths is important, particularly since the printed information thereon is generally placed in alignment on the material being prepared, and, in View of the latter, a neat, right angle cut is also very desirable.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicant has provided a new and novel dispensing device for rolled tape, wherein a finger access opening is provided in the cover thereof for feeding the tape from the roll, and where novel carmning action of the device permits the tape to selectively pass the cutting member as it feeds from the roll. With the instant invention, the users iingers do not touch the adhesive side of the tape during dispensing action and the edges thereof `are kept clean. Moreover, accurate cutoff of any desired length of tape is assured by the particular location of the cutting element thereof in relation to the extruded tape.

Briefly, the applicants invention comprises a cover having spool-receiving projections disposed at an end thereof and an access opening therein which permits the viewing of the rolled tape as it passes from the dispenser. `The cover is pivotally secured to a body member which covers the rolled tape and during use, the user feeds the tape from the dispenser through a novel slide arrange- Einent whereupon the cover, through a cammin-g action, yraises from the body member to permit the free passage of therolled tape from the dispenser. When the desired V'amount of tape has passed from the dispenser, and the slide arrangement is released, the cover is forced onto the body member, with the result that a cutting or knife element disposed on the latter cuts the tape into the desired length. The instant structure is particularly advantageous in that the position of the cutting element is such that the length of extruded tape can always accurately be determined.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing device for rolled tape. t

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing device for rolled tape which provides an `access opening for feeding the tape from the roll.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing device for rolled tape wherein the cover thereof is raised for feeding action through cam means initiated by the dispensing operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing device for rolled tape wherein the tape is accurately and neatly cut into the desired lengths for effective usage.

A yet further `and more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dispensing device for rolled tape which is made from a minimum number of components, which is readily assembled, and which maintains the tape in a clean condition during storage.

Other objects and a better understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a View in vertical section showing a tape dispensing device in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the tape dispenser of FIG. 1, with the structure thereof being in a dispensing position prior to cutting;

HG. 3 is an operative view of the. tape dispenser of FIG. 2, showing the users hands therearound; and,

FiG. 4 is a View of the instant tape dispenser, with the cover thereof pivoted as for inserting a new roll of tape.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference. will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specic language will be used to describe the same. it will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations land further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated las would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants novel dispensing device 1li comprises a tbody `member lll having a cover 14 pivotally secured thereto at 12. The cover 14 includes a generally elongated base member 14a having an angled portion Mb at one end thereof, where a spool holder 15 formed by arms T Sa extends from the lat-ter. As should be evident from FIGS. 1 and 4, the spool holder 15 is adapted to receive the roll of tape 2li between the arms 15a thereof on flared portions (not shown) on the latter. The rolled tape 2li is maintained in an operative position by virtue of the arms 15a being urged towards each other when the dispensing device is assembled, the latter to be discussed more fully herebelow.

The base member 14a of the cover i4 `further includes an access opening 14C therein, and `disposed adjacent the aforesaid access opening 14e and the free end of the base member 14a is a layer of resilient material i7, such as rubber, for example, which serves as `a receiving area for the teeth of a cutting element 22 disposed on the body member 11 of the dispensing device itl.

With particular reference to FIG. l, the body member il comprises a slide member 24 which is normally urged into a position beneath the access opening 14C in the cover 14 by la tension member 19, such as a common coil spring, for example. The tension member 1l9 has one end thereof disposed about a pin 24a on the slide mem-ber 24 and the other end engages a projection lia formed on the body member il. The cutting element 22 is disposed at the end of the body member l1 in cooperative relation with the resilient material 17 on the cover 14, with the cutting element 22 being retained in the aforesaid position by conventional means, such as a screw 22a, for example.

ln use, and when it is desired to lill the tape dispenser 10, the cover 14 is rotated to the position disclosed by FIG, 4 whereupon the arms 15a forming the spool holder 15 spread apart, permitting the ready replacement or insertion of the rolled tape 20. The tape is placed on the ared portions on the arms 15a of the spool holder i5 and one end thereof is drawn outwardly towards the end of the cover 14 having the resilient material 17 thereon. The cover 14 is then rotated so that the pressure of the side walls of the body member 11 retains the arms 15a against the rolled tape 2G and, hence, in operative condition. rThe free end of the tape can then be cut oi by pressing the cover 14 against the body member l so that the cutting element 17 on the latter cuts through the tape.

In dispensing, and as particularly evident from FIG. 3, the users hand is placed around the tape dispenser 1t) so that a thumb tits into the access opening 14e in the cover 14. The thumb is then moved in an outward direction so as to feed the tape 20 from the roll and, therefore, extrude the tape from the dispenser 10. With such engagement of the tape by the thumb, which, importantly, is on the nonadhesive side thereof, the pin 24a on the slide member 24 moves outwardly with the slide member and engages a cam surface 25 formed adjacent the end of the cover 14 (see FGS. 2 and 4), whereupon the cover i4 moves away from the body member 11, permitting the tape to be freely dispensed without being engaged by the cutting element 17. When the desired length of tape has been extruded onto the work being processed, by withdrawing the dispenser 10 from the latter, the sliding member 24 is released, whereupon the latter returns to its original position shown in FIG. l through the 'force exerted by tension member 19. The dispensing device 10 is then in position where the cutoif can ybe accomplished by the movement of the cover 14 towards the body member 11 and, hence, the cutting element 22.

It should be apparent from the preceding that the applieant has provided a new and novel tape dispenser which is particularly adaptable for readily and conveniently applying a clean and unhandled tape onto a surface, and whereby the tape may be cut into the precise lengths desired. The preceding is accomplished by the provision of an access opening through which the nonadhesive side of the tape can be engaged and fed from the dispenser, and by provision of a novel cam arrangement between the cover and the body member which permits the extruding of the tape independently of any contact with the cutting element until desired. Through the use of resilient material, the applicant has provided for effective long life of the cutting edge of the cutting element. It should further be noted that the length of the cover is such as to permit accurate alignment of printed tape being applied to a surface with matching printed tape which is already in place on the surface. The access opening 14e further permits convenient identication of the type of printed tape loaded in the dispenser.

The dispensing device described hereabove is susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention. Ey way of example, in addition to normal changes in proportioning, other arrangements may be employed for 4i positioning the rolled tape on the spool holder for equally eective practice of the invention. rhus, the above description should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

l claim:

l. A dispensing device for rolled tape comprising a body member, a cover pivotally connected to said body member and having attached thereto a portion adapted to receive said tape, and a slide member movable on said body member, said cover having a cam surface engageable by said slide member to move said cover with respect to said body member.

2. A dispensing device for rolled tape comprising a body member, a cover pivotally connected to said body member and having attached thereto a portion adapted.

to receive said tape, and a slide member resiliently secured to said body member, said cover having an open-V ing therein providing access to said tape and a cam surface engageable by said slide member to move said cover with respect to said body member.

3. A dispensing device for rolled tape comprising a body member, a cover pivotally connected to said body member and having attached thereto a portion adapted to receive said tape, a slide member movable on said body member, said cover having an opening therein providing access to said tape and a cam surface engageable by said slide member to move said cover with respect tol said body member, and means normally urging said slide member to a position beneath said opening in said cover.

ll. A dispensing device for rolled tape comprising a body member having a cutting element disposed thereon, a cover pivotally connected to said body member and having attached thereto a portion adapted to receive said tape, and a slide member movable on said body member, said cover having a cam surface engageable by said slide member to permit the dispensing of said tape independent of engagement with said cutting element.

5. A dispensing device for rolled tape comprising a body member having a cover pivotally connected thereto, said cover having attached thereto a portion adapted to receive said tape, said portion having an opening therein, a slide member movable on said body member and normally disposed beneath said opening, and a cutting element carried by said `body member, said tape feeding over said slide member to said cutting element, and said cover having a cam surface engageable by said slide member upon manual movement of the latter through the access provided by said opening to move said body member and said cover with respect to each other and permit the dispensing of said tape without engagement by said cutting element.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

